Preview edition — Poet of Uplift is still in progress. The poem is as it appears in the video; the commentary is a working draft.
From the realm of wealth and chance, a golden coin of fortune pranced
To a pleasant cottage of a peasant, it danced and glowed with a future to enhance
It held the promise of riches beyond compare, gleaming brighter in the sun's warm glare
Yet the peasant, amidst dreams of prosperous business, failed clearly to notice the coin's flair
Till his lowest moment, lost and directionless, he knelt with a prayer of mercy so restless
Then a spark of the coin caught his eye, its surface rarely polished, a sight so priceless
In that moment, he knew his fate had been proclaimed and named
Heads or tails, with every toss, would land a flip of destiny, either head to fortune or a tail to a tale of blame
With a whisper of wish, he tossed the coin above, and it landed on its head, a sign of love
Raising the coin above, he thanked the heavens, thinking of greatness and a new haven to dream of
In a few days, distinguished guests brought investment into his business, a change so vast
Promises of huge future capitals followed, and whenever he was asked his name, he said he was called Effort
As fortune turned his fate, fame, admirers, and gifts of his benevolence came, no longer late
His new wine business flourished, and with every toss, he heeded a prudent mind
Winning in all stock market sways and at casino shows with friends, he was never at a loss
As his friends grew, so did those who envied his success
Consistent in his portfolio, adaptable during financial losses, Effort in a way had a skill to impress
Some called him a one-seasoned wonder, others said he had stars of favor
Those closer claimed he had the mouth of financial prophecy
Till one party, as he lay on the couch drunk, in the midst of wild cheers, feeling so sunk
The dances that surrounded, and euphoria, he felt heavy on his heart, a burden so clunk
In thoughts of his wealth and health, he saw his competitors watching and talking to his household workers, a scene so stealth
Quickly, hands were reaching and searching his pockets of the suit he wore, as sleep and blurs of vision weighed on him
He thought of a fresh start and tossed the coin above, a symbol of hope, a token of love
Those that surrounded near and far looked up and saw his secrets in seconds, a sight from above
With little strength of awareness, he grabbed it mid-air and soon darkness fell on him, a moment so rare
He opened his eyes, surprised to wake up in his old cottage.
Was it all a dream? Was he rescued by a good worker?
With a smile of joy, he saw the coin lying beside him, sparkling at him, a sign so fine
From then on, He promised himself new strategies to productivity, cautious and to be gentle of whatever he wished for
Poet of Uplift · Hear it on the channel ↗
Commentary
This story in couplets follows a peasant and a golden coin. A flip of fortune lifts him from despair to riches, and a party scene turns the tale into a lesson about effort, envy and being careful what you wish for.
A “golden coin of fortune” dances to “a pleasant cottage of a peasant,” but he “failed clearly to notice the coin’s flair” until “his lowest moment,” when he kneels “with a prayer of mercy.” Seeing that heads or tails might mean “fortune” or “a tale of blame,” he tosses it “With a whisper of wish,” and it lands “on its head.”
“In a few days” guests bring investment, and asked his name, he says “he was called Effort.” His “new wine business flourished,” he wins at the stock market, and friends and envy both grow. Some call him “a one-seasoned wonder,” others say he has “the mouth of financial prophecy.”
At a wild party he lies “on the couch drunk,” heavy with “a burden so clunk,” and sees competitors “talking to his household workers.” Hands search his pockets; he tosses the coin again, and “darkness fell on him.” He wakes “in his old cottage” and wonders, “Was it all a dream?” The coin “sparkling at him” is the sign, and he promises “new strategies to productivity.”